LPL Financial LLC Purchases 4,389 Shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

LPL Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 18.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 27,670 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 4,389 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC's holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group were worth $1,479,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. acquired a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group in the 4th quarter worth about $401,000. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 14.0% during the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 22,989 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,229,000 after acquiring an additional 2,828 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 204.7% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 110,571 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,327,000 after acquiring an additional 74,278 shares during the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $286,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $262,000. 96.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently commented on NWE. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $57.50 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Barclays increased their price objective on NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday. Guggenheim raised NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on NorthWestern Energy Group from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, April 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, NorthWestern Energy Group has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $59.92.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

NWE stock traded down $0.14 on Wednesday, reaching $58.64. 27,731 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 378,857. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $48.52 and a 12 month high of $59.59. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $55.82 and its 200 day moving average price is $54.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.60 billion, a PE ratio of 16.07, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.37.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.50%. This is a positive change from NorthWestern Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. NorthWestern Energy Group's payout ratio is 72.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other NorthWestern Energy Group news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.32, for a total value of $38,132.64. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,021 shares of the company's stock, valued at $598,660.72. The trade was a 5.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.94% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About NorthWestern Energy Group

NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc provides electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and various industrial customers. It generates, purchases, transmits, and distributes electricity; and produces, purchases, stores, transmits, and distributes natural gas, as well as owns municipal franchises to provide natural gas service in the communities.